Rail-splice.



' J. THOMAS.

RAIL SPLICE APPLICATION FILED 11113.25, 1909. V

Patented Jan. 31, 1911.

s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M E A f3 therefor an with. 2 1s a side elevation of my improved spice. Fig. 3-is'a plan of the same.

3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES THOM AS, OF JULIET, ILLINOIS.

RAIL-SPLICE.

specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 25, 1909. Serial No. 485,767.

Patented Jan. 31, 1911.

To all whom-it may concern: f

Be it known that 1, James THOMAS 'c 1t1- zen of the United States, residing at Johet,

in the county of Will and State of Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful Improv'e'men'ts in 'Raiil splicesyaml I do hereby declare that the followingi a full, clear,

mwhich-theabutting ends of the rails'instead oflying upon a tie are suspended be tween twoof them;

The invention also relates to arail-splice having certain new structures in connection therewith forlic'ildln 'its parts in'fixed relation' under all condit ions of use.

Itlms' for one ofit s objects-the provision of a ritil' splice'whose'base plate ands' lice"- bars are arranged to intereng'ag'e where y to rovide against longitudinal movemen of the parts relatively. Its further object is to provide peculiar means for holding the splice-bars tightly in. engagement with the rail, all'o'f wliieh'willibe clearlypointed out in' the followin' specification aided by the accompanying rawin s" in which:-

Fi re 1 is a vertica transverse section of ara" and pal-tact a supporting'base late splice-bars 'in connection t ere- Figs 4 is a vertical=transversesection of a slightly'difierent form of splice. Fig. 5is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 6 is a plan of the same. Fig. 7 is a detailin perspective of parts of the slplicesho wn in Flg. 1. Fig. -8' is also a= deta' in perspective of parts of the splice shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 91s'a rspectlve view of a base-plate. Fig. 10 IS a plan of the under side of the base. Fig. 11 is an end elevation of the same.

Althou h-.my invention is susceptible of some 'slig t changes it is shown in its preferred embodiment and in bringing out my said invention I have had due regard to .the existing'art and the novelty in my splice will be pointed out.

The rail 18 indicated at A and is sup- I ported'npon a base plate B after the mandepending strengthening rib or fin C which is preferably placed midway of its length and extends longitudinally thereof, lying immediately beneath the juncture of two rail sections as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 6 it being understood that when the plate is not used as a suspension device the fin may be eliminated so that said plate canrest upon two or more ties with one of them under it to form the support for the rail ends. Since a suspended rail-splice is often desired I have provided the form shown and described which, as may be seen in figures, 'rests upon two of'the ties so that the rib or fin can lie between said ties. Said fin in extending longitudinally of the plate and being of considerable depth vertically makes the plate very strong and will thus support great weight. The surfaces of the plate may be made substantially plain both'above and below, asshown in Fig. 9, or it may be provided on its under surface with teeth or projections :15 shown in Figs. 10 and 11 which will sink into the ties and thus serve to' prevent sidewise movement of the splice upon said ties.

I also show the plate in two forms as to its upper or top surfaces. For instance, in Figs. 1 and 7 the top surface is substantially flat while in Figs. 4 and 8 it is provided with a flange at its two longitudibar F which is of a form to fit between the head and base of the rail as in common practice and each splice-bar has an extension lying at each side of the base of the rail and each said extension is provided with depending lugs or extensions G adapted to enter the said holes E in the plate-B,

although but one of said extensions may be thus equipped. The usual bolts H are prowided to clamp the splicebars and the rail together. The said lugs or extensions G, of which there are preferably two, snugly 'fit the hole E in the base and prevent the splice- -bars moving in a longitudinal direction relative to the base late and herein lies part of my invention, 1t being my object to provide a simple arrangement for the intorlm-king of the splice bars and said base. plate so that no movement of the base and bars 1 relatively can take place in the direction named. The width of each hole E besides admitting a lug is also wide enough to receive a wed e J outside of the lug which when g'radua ly tightened from time to time by driving it down will take up any looseness between the splice bars and the rail due to wear. Althou h I may not use it in' practice, I provi e a wedge or key K to extend through the lower end of the wedge J beneath the base plate which may be used to draw said wedge J downward and also that when the latter is properlytightened the said wedge or key wil prevent it becoming loosened.

At several. places I provide the usual spikes L for securin the base plate to the ties and which ma a so assist in holding the splice bars upon t e rail base and it Wlll be observed that in Fig 3 -the spikes L driven throu h the base are let into the edges of the sp ice-bars and further assist inpreventin longitudinal movement of the latter upon said base. This construction provides a very eflicient formof splice in WhlOh all looseness can be taken up at any time in a very simple manner and there is absolutely no end movement of-the splice-bars such as would tend to loosen the bolts H.

In the second form of base plate to which I have referred employ a vertically disposed fiange D at each longitudinal edgeand likewise provide wedges M which correspond to the wedges J in Fig. 1, these being inserted in holes N in the base plate adjacent to the said flanges D these being like wise provided, if desired, with wedges O. In this instance the outer edges'of the splicebars, indicated b P, are provided with horizontally dispose lugs Q adapted to engage notches R in the flanges as shown in Fig. 8 said lugs seating snugly in said notches so as to prevent endwlse movement .of the splice-bars and answering therefore in the same capacity as the lugs G of the form hereinbefore described.

I have provided as before a series of spikes S which extend through the base plate between the fianges D and the edges of the s lice-bars as shown in Fig. 6 and in addition to this I hav'e shown a series of wed es T that may be driven through holes U in t e base-plate into the tie at each side of the lugs Q, and these may also be used in the first form described or they may be eliminated entirely.

Evidently the form of splice just described will accomplish the same purpose as the first form and is to be preferred perhaps to-the other form by reason of the ease of manufacture. The provision of a supporting baseplate and splice-bar after the manner described or any equivalent thereof wherein splice-bar to engage the splice-bars and the said base-plate intereeaeoq engage constitutes a very simple and efficient use other forms of members to answer in the capacity of the wedges .I and M herein without sacrificing the s irit of the invention which is that of providing the simplest formof connection between the s lice-bars and the base for preventing longitudinal movementand taking up looseness incident to wear. It is to be observed that the wedges in either. form illustrated not only serve to move the splice-bars toward the rail but. overhang said bars and prevent them from lifting from the base at their outer edgesthat is to say my splice is of a form that can be made between rolls, and asthere is no special meansfor h oldin the bars down in positionthe wedges in being beveled at their inner faces act in this ca acity and prevent the bars from tilting and also act to force them against the rail and no matter what the position of the wedgg may be, whether high orlow, the results are always the same. It is of the highest importance that a railsplice in order to be of practical value should be strong and durable and of a form that can be made betweenrolls.' To be able to resist breakage it should be made of steel and in order to be low in cost it should be of a form that can be readily rolled and it has been my aim in producing my spliceto construct it to be a form that willmeet the above requirements.

As distinguished from the art my sp1icebar of rolled material is provided with lugs depending from its lower surface as shown in Figs. 1 and 7 and adapted to seat in holes to receive them in thejb ase or supporting plate thereby absolutely revfentingmovement of the two relativel in a longitudinal direction. In addition to this important structure, which makes itpossible to readily roll the parts as already brought out, there,

is that of combining therewith the wedges to overhang the bars for wedgin said bar's against the rail between its bee and base.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1; A rail-splice comprising a supporting base-plate for a rail havin its entire top surface substantially flat an provided wit a series of holes at each side of the rail, a each side of said rail and each provi with depending extensions to en age said holes and means to enter the holes ehind one of the splice-bars to moye said bar toward and hold it against the rar 2. A rail-splice comprising a supporting base-plate for a rail having its entire top surface substantially flat an provided with a series of holes at each side of the rail, a splice-bar to en a e each side of said rail and eachprovi e with depending extenenter the holes behind the extensions of one .of th81 SpllCebaISt0 move said bar toward and against the rail.

3 A rail-splice comprising a supporting base-plate for a rail having its entire top surface "substantially flat and provided with 'a'series of holes at each side of the rail, a splice-bar to engage each slde of sald rail and each provided with de ending extens1ons toengage saldholes an means to enter th'e holes.behind the extensions of one of the sphcebars to move it toward and against the rail -and'tocarry the rail against the op- 'positejsplice-bar.

, 4. A rail-splice comprising a supporting base-plate for a railhaving/its entire top sideor the rail, an

surface; substantially flatand provided with 'aseriejs of holes at eachside ofiithe rail, :1

splice-bar at each side of and to engage the rail and each provided with depending ex tensions to lie in said holes, and Wedges to enter-the holes against one of the splicebars jto'move said bars toward the rail.

v 55A rail splice comprising a supporting base-plate to carry a rail having its entire topsiirface substantially flat, a splice-bar,

means to secure the latter upon-the plate atone side of the rail, a s lice-bar at the other having extensions thereon, there" being holes in the base-plate to receivesaid extensions, and means to enter said holes adapted to engage the bar and hold it against the rail.

GLA rail-splice comprising a supporting base-plate, to carry'a rail having its entire top surface-substantially flat' a splice-bar,

, means to secure the latter upon the plate at against t means into place against said bar.

one side of the rail, a splice-bar at the other side of the rail and having extensions thereon, there being holes in the base-plate to receivmsaid extensions, means to enter said holes adapted to engage the bar and hold it v e rail, and devices to draw the 7. A rail-splice comprising a supporting base-plate to carry a rail having its entire top surface substantially fiat, a splice-bar,

means to secure the latteru on theplate "vices to draw the wedges into said holes.

8. A rail-splice comprising a supporting base-plate to carry a rail having its entire top surface substantially flat, a splice-bar,

means to secure the latter u on the plate at one side of the rail, afsplicearv at the other side of the rail and having. extensions there on, there being holes in the base'plate to receive said extensions the latter having inclined surfaces, Wedges to enter the holes behind the extensions and adapted to force the bar against the rail, and devices to draw the wedges into said holes. lntestirnony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two-witnesses.

JAMES THOMAS.

Witnesses:

SI Pson, F. A. JAoKsoN. 

